Separable fastener



y 27, 1930. R. F. WALTERS 1,760,262

SEPARABLE FASTENER -ori inai Filed July 24, 1924 lifipliiziaviicr? BOZZO EWCLZi Oifls.

Patented May 27, 1930 .UNITED STATES:

PATENT. OFFICE 3011.0 25. WALTERS, or DETROIT, micmea g, Assienoa, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

UNITED-CARR EASTENEE CORPORATION, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, Acon- POBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SEPARABLE EASTENEE.

Original application filed July 24, 1924, Serial No. 727,959. Divided and this application filed February 26,

This invention aims to provide improve ments in separable fastening elements.

The application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 727,959, filed July 24, 1924. V

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, a modified form of fastener strip and two modified forms of studs Figure 1 is an elevation view of an automobile door showing the upholstered part removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is an elevation View of the backing of the upholstered part, showing the stud strips secured thereto;

- Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of the door, thereto;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4,-4: of Fig. 3, showing a fragmentary view of one of the stud-carrying stri s in side elevation as secured to the-backlng and before the coverin%material is apphed;

ig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the upbolstered part, showing one of the studs and a portion of the stud-carrying strip as viewed from the inside face thereof;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but showmg a modified form of stud-carrying strip secured to the upholstered backing;

Fig. 7 is an elevation view of a portion of the modified form of fastener strip;

showing the upholstery secured Fig. 8 is an elevation view of the strip as shown in Fig. 6, but viewing the strip from 5 the opposite side;

Fig.9 is a front spectively, of, a. modified form of stud for use with a stud-carryin strip;

Fig. 10 is a front an a side elevation, re- 40 spectlvely, of a second form of stud; and

Fig. 11 1s a section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 4 to illustrate the depression in the strip. in which the base of a stud is located. Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown, for illustration only, an automobile door pressed from a single sheet of metal to which may be secured an upholstered part for proriding a finished ap earance to the inside of the door. Iv have ound that the fastener elements on the door frame and upon the upand a side elevation, re-' Serial No. 11,705.

holstered part do not always align with each other, because of slight defects in manufacture of the door andof the upholstered part when these parts are manufactured in large quantities. To remedy this defect, I have provided shiftable fastener elements which ma be located upon either the frame or the up olstered part and the cooperating fastener elements may remain fixed relative to the part to which they are secured.

By using this methodof shiftable fastener elements, the upholstered part may be quickly secured to ,the frame and any of the fastener elements may be aligned with each other by shifting the movable fastener element relative to the fastener part to which it is to be secured.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the Shiftable fastener elements may he first secured to a strip of metal or the like, so that attachment thereof to the backing is a simple and speedy operation. I

Referring now' to that form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5, I have shown an upholstered part which includes a backing 1 (Figs. 2 and 3) having a p1u-- rality of apertures '2 punched therethrough to permit passage of the studs, for securing the upholstered part to the door 3 of the automobile.

These studs are pressed from a single sheet of metal and each is provided with a head 4, neck 5, shank 6, relatively thin flat base? and slots 8. The slots extend from the head to the base to permit contraction and expansion' of the head. The studs, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, are applied to the backing 1 in strips 9 having any desired number of studs secured thereto.

Each strip for holding the studs comprises a somewhat arched single sheet of metal hav-' ing a plurality of depressions 10 of substantially larger crosssection than the base 7 of each stud, an aperture 11in each depression and a plurality of prongs 12 struck up from the strips 9 adjacent the periphery of the depressions 10..

When the studs are assembled with the through the aperture 11 The prongs 12 are then bent inwardly and downwardly over the depression to prevent the studs from falling out of the strip while permitting free trans verse movement of the studs relative to the stri 1 The strips are secured to the backing by a plurality of 'prongs 13 projecting-from the inner edge of the strip, and these prongs pass through the backing 1 and are clenched against the opposite face thereof. At the same time, a flange' portion 14 at the outer edge of the strip 9 is clenched over the edge of the backing and left extending over the edge of the back face until the covering is applied to the installation. Thus the studs extend through the apertures 2 in the backing and, because the shanks 6 thereof are substantially smaller in cross-section than the apertures 2, they are free to be shifted transversely in any direction relative to the backm Sifter the strips 9 are secured to the back ing 1, a padding 15 of cotton, or the like, is

placed over the surface of the backing at that side thereof where the strips 9 are exposed, thus providing a smooth surface over which is stretched a flexible covering 16 of cloth,

' leather or the like (Fig. 3). -The edges of 40 tures 18, which are formed by the covering 16 are wrapped over the up- ,standing portions 14 of the strips 9, which" are thereafter clenched against the surface of the backing, thus clenching the covering 16 Ia gainst the backing 1, as best illustrated in i". 3.,

Th; door 3, as illustrated, is formed from .a single sheet of metal and has a frame portion 17 adjacent the periphery thereof (Fig. 1) at the inside face of the door. This frame presents a plurality of stud-receiving aperpunching or drilling holes in the door blank before the frame part thereof is formed.

To secure the upholstered part of the installation to the door, the u holstered part is placed against the frame 0 the door and the heads 4 of the studs are pressed into their cooperating stud-receiving. apertures 18, as illustrated in Fig. 2. If, for reasons of defeet in making the dies for punching the apertures 18 in the frame portion 17' or the c apertures 2 in the backing 1,- or because the holster}:

strips 9 areslightly out of line, the heads of the studs do not enter the apertures 18 in the frame, a suitable tool,,hook-shaped at one end, may be inserted between the door and upand the stud or studs may be shifted until t with-their cooperating apertures. Thus, the upholstery ma be applied to the door without strainin t e-studsand it maybe attached thereto so t at its edges line up with the 4 edges of the door.

. When the studs are engaged with the ap- 'ertures in the frame portion 17, the edges of ey can be pressed into engagement the upholstery are seated and held tightly against the frame adjacent the outer periphcry of the door, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

" Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and'S, I have of my invention and in this instance are bent against that side of the base 7 of the stud which lies adjacent the backing when the strip is secured thereto.

In the modified form of my invention, as illlustrated, the prongs 23 for securing the inner edge of the strip 20 to the backing 1 are pressed from the strip itself and are located a slight distance inwardly from the edge thereof.

Thefdoor' and the upholstery which is attached to the door and the method of attaching the strips 20 to .the backing 1 are substantially' as shown and described in the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 9,1 have shown a modified form ofstud for use inconnection with strips substantially as .shown and described in the preferred and modified form of my in-.

vention. The stud is provided with a relatively narrow rectangularwbase portion 2 presenting ahead, neck and shank portion substantially as shown in the stud used in con nection with the preferred form of my invention. In this instance, however, I have 'provided one slot 25 only, which extends a considerable distance into the base portion'24. At each end of the slot 25 in the base portion 24, I have provided relatively short slots 26, 26, thereby to permit the head of the stud to contract and expand when engaging the studreceiving aperture in the frame of the'door; Most of the bending strain exerted upon the stud when it is contracted, occurs at those portions 27 of the base of the stud between the ends of the short slots 26,26 and the outer ends of the base, as illustrated.

By using this type of stud, a somewhat narrower stud-holding strip may be used for securing the studs to the backing 1. A

R ferring now to Fig. 10 and to the second modified form of stud for use with stud-holding strips, I have shown a stud substantially as shown and described in connectionwith the preferred form of my invention. The

- the use of a somewhat narrower stud-holding strip than shown in connection with the preferred and modified formof my invention.

1. A fastener strip for securing upholstery to a frame which comprises a single sheet of metal having aplurality of depressions movement of each of the studs in any lateral sis formed therein, means providing an aperture through the bottom of each of said depressions, a plurality of studs associated with said strip and each having a base of smaller diameter than the diameter of the depression into which it is assembled thereby being free to shift laterally and said studs each presenting a head, a neck and a shank through an aperture in a depression, the shank portions being of substantially smaller cross sectional area than the apertures through which they pass thereby permitting free direction relative to said fastener strip.

2. A fastenerstrip for securing upholstery to a frame which comprises a single sheet of metal having a plurality of depressions formed therein, a plurality of studs associated with said strip and each having a base located in a depression, means securing the studs in assembly with said strip, said stud bases being smaller in diameter than the diameters of said depressions thereby permitting lateral shifting movement of said studs in an direction relative to said strip.

3. n a fastener installation, a strip of sheet material for securing upholstery to a frame, a plurality of soeket-engagin studs assembled with said' strip and havmg heads presented throu h apertures in said stri and means provi ed partly by the strip an partly by each stud for securing said studs to said stri the said means and the said apertures in t e strip being arranged and proportloned to permit relatively free lateral movement of said studs in any direction relative tosaid strip. I

to a frame which comprises a strip of sheet metal, a plurality of socket-engaging studs presented through a ertures in sai strip, means for securing said studs to said strip to prevent substantial axial movement of said studs relative to said strip'while ermitting relativel free lateral movement o said studs in any 'rection relative to said strip, and attaching means presented by the strip for securing said fastener strip to the backing of I an upholstery installation.

5. A fastener strip comprising, in combi-- I 7. A astener strip pressed from a single piece of metal and having means pressed therefrom for holding\ a pluraliays of studs in assembly therewit said means permitting limited lateral shiftin ofv the studs in any direction relative to t e strip.

8. A fastener strip having a plurality of depressions therein, a plurality of stud members having their base portions located in said depressions, means formed from said strip for holding said studs in assembled relation therewith while permitting shifting of said studs in any lateral direction relative to said strip. I

9. A astener strip having a plurality of depressions therein, a plurality of stud members having their base portions located in 4. A fastener strip for securing upholstery. 

